Eastwell claims Road to Indy Scholarship Shootout ticket

Kevin Mills Racing’s Michael Eastwell has won a ticket for the Mazda Road to Indy Shootout after winning the SuperSeries Shootout nomination.

The four-time 2018 Champion of Brands winner was presented with his ticket after a day of evaluation and assessment at iZONE Driver Performance at Silverstone.

Eastwell, who finished second in the BRSCC Formula Ford 1600 National Championship in addition to his unbeaten run of four Champions of Brands wins, will now compete in the Mazda Round to Indy Scholarship Shootout in the United States in December.

“My goal this season was to achieve a place in the shootout, and I am elated to have done just that,” said Eastwell. “I would also like to extend my thanks to the Kevin Mills Racing team, I’ve had an amazing car all season and today it has enabled me to reach my objective.

“Naturally, I am extremely excited about the coming weeks. This is an opportunity of a lifetime, and I am determined to make sure I am well prepared and ready to hit the ground running when I arrive at the Bondurant Racing School in just over three weeks’ time.”

The shootout is set to take place near Phoenix, Arizona over December 8/9. The winner of that will receive a $200,000 scholarship to race in the USF2000 series, the fourth tier of motorsport on the Road to Indy ladder.

“Michael is a deserving winner of this nomination,” said James Beckett, organiser of the Champion of Brands FF1600 series.

“Throughout the season Michael has displayed a determination and ability to win combined with a professional approach. These are fine qualities, and I have no doubt Michael will be a force to be reckoned with in the Mazda Road to Indy competition.”

Previous winners of the SuperSeries Shootout include Ollie White in 2016 and Jamie Thorburn in ’17.